Label, stamp, or strip applying device



April23, 1940. M H, TARR 2,198,519

LABEL, STAMP, OR STRIP APPLYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 30, 1957 6.7@ 60 e /4 707 40 56 59 ,X f@ /y Patented pr. 23, 1940 UNi'l'iE STATE anatre `maar LABEL, STAMP, 0R STRIP APPLYIN G DEVICE application Decemberk so, 1937, serial No, 182,576

9 Claims.

This invention lrelates to a device for use in applying gummed labels, tags, stamps,y or other units of like character, or continuous adhesive strips, to various articles of merchandise, letters,

papers, envelopes, parcel wrappings, etc. The present invention is adapted for use with short units provided in strip form, with the strip perforated transversely at the ends of the individual units for readily separating the units individually and vsuccessively from the strip. The device is arranged to accommodate a strip in the form of a roll or in the form of a pack wherein the units are arranged in accordion fashion, i. e., with the strip bent and folded back and forth at the lines of periorations. f

The present invention constitutes an improvement to the device disclosed in my prior United States Letters Patent No. 2,095,894, dated October 12, 1937. The improvement primarily relates to the means for moistening the strip; and particularly to means for preventing the accidental escape of the moistening fluid from the device.

The construction and operation of the device forming the subject matter of the present invention will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, of which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the device;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the moisture containing and expelling mechanism; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a detail of the invention.

The device illustrated in the drawing may be composed, at least in part, of any desired kind of sheet material or of material capable of being molded into desired shape, preferably a non-corrosive light-weight metal suitable for die casting.

The device includes a main body or frame I comprising a base plate 2, a rear end plate 3, side plates 4, l, a front plate 5, and a transverse partition 5 spaced from the rear end wall 3 and providing a compartment 'I for reception of the strip of gumrned labels, etc., a', reduced to a roll or to a rectangular pack xl, as above noted. i

The device also comprises a lid Ill consisting of a lower longitudinal plate II extending across the device from, and preferably resting on the upper edges of, the side walls Il, d. The lid IG is or may be provided with downwardly extending aligning flanges or lugs I2 arranged to engage the inner sides of the side walls Il, 4 respectively. The lid Ill is pivotally connected at I3 to the (C1. ill-62.5)

rear wall 3 of the main body I and is held in a normally closed position, in the present instance, by a spring latch lll, secured to theunderside of the cover plate II and engaging a fixed element I5 carried by the main body I. In the present instance, the iixed element I5 is in the form vof a rod or pin extending transversely ofthe device -and secured in any suitable manner to one `or both side walls 4, 1i thereof.

The front edge I6 of the cover plate II terminates rearwardly from and in spaced relation to the back edge I'I of the front plate 5, which lati ter is disposed at an angle with respect to the i formed in the side walls Il, i of` the body frame 'I.

The roller I9 is maintained in a normal forward position by means of a spring 22. The spring 22 is of a bent U shaped type 'having its central portion 23 seated in a transversely extending recess 24 formed on the bottom wall 2 and secured therein by a plate 25 and retaining screw 26. The ends 21, 2l of .the spring 22 bear against the rear sides of the opposite ends respectively of the roller axle 2U and resiliently retain said axle in the forward ends of the slots 2l, 2|v in the side walls 4, 4 respectively.

The forward end of the bottom plate 2 and the lower edges of the side walls Il, 4 curve upwardly, at indicated at 28. The base or bottom plate 2 terminates rearwardly from the angular vfront wall 5, as indicated at 29 and provides an opening 30 therebetween.

Disposed substantially parallel to the front plate 5, is a gripper plate 3| which is mounted in the opening 30 between the side walls Il, d. The gripper or clamp plate 3l is pivotally mounted on a transversely extending pin 32 which is see cured at its opposite ends in the side walls d, 4. A spring 33tends to rock the clamp plate 3l in one direction on its pivot 32 and holds said clamp plate against a stop 34, whereby `the fixed front plate 5 and the clamp plate 3l are normally in substantially parallel relation to each other and form a channel 35 therebetween for passage of the strip a.' therethrough.

The cover plate II is provided with upwardly extending side flanges 3l, 3l which function as lso guides for the strip a: in its passage from the storage compartment 'I to and across the cover plate or strip supporting platform l l as it passes to the moistening roll I9 land from the moistening roll into the passageway 35 between the fixed and relatively movable plates 5 and 3 I. The side walls 4, Il extend upwardly at the opening i'and form continuations of the guide flanges 3l", 3l as indicated at 37a, 31a whereby the strip is guided from the cover plate I I to the passage 35 across the moistening roller I9.

The cover plate I I extends but part-way across the otherwise open top of the storage compartment 'I and terminates intermediate the partition 6 and the rear wall 3, as indicated at 38, to provide an opening 39 for passage of the strip a: from the storage compartment 'l onto the top 'of the cover plate II.

A top plate extends from the rear wall 3 forwardly across the opening 3S and beyond the partition 9 and together with the rear portion of the cover plate II forms a passage 4I for the strip .at as it passes from the storage compartment 'I onto the cover plate Il and between the guide flanges 3l, 31 which latter prevent lateral displacement of the strip as it is being fed to and across the opening I8 in which the moistening roller i9 is mounted.

The lower edge i2 of the Vclamp plate 3l is normally arranged to engage the surface y to which the strip :r is to be applied. Downward pressure applied to the front portion of the frame l will cause the clamp plate 3l to rock about its pivot 32 and clamp the strip :c between lower edge l2 of the clamp plate and the relatively sharply beveled lower edge 43 of the plate 5, after which a slight twist of the device will cause the edge 43 to sever a projected portion of the strip from that portion which is disposed within the channel 35.

Moisture is applied to the peripheral'surface of the moistening roll I9 by means generally indicated at 50. The moistening means is mounted in a compartment 5I formed within the body of the device, between the rear of the moistening roll I9 and a transversely extending rib 49 on the base plate 2 adjacent and substantially parallel to the rear of the moistening roll I9, the front side of the transverse partition 6, the side walls d, 4, and the cover plate I I.

The moistureapplying means includes a con tainer which is adapted to remain normally sealed, to prevent the escape of the moistening liquid therefrom. The moistening means also includes mechanism which is adapted to eject but a relatively small amount of moisture onto 4the peripheralY face of the moistening roll I9, during operation of the device, by a pumping' ac-v tion created within the container and which Vwill expell moisture from the container and subsequently draw air into the container to replace the volume of expelledmoisture and whatever air was discharged with the moisture, to prevent the formation lof a partial vacuum within the container and to maintain a static atmospheric pressure therein. f

In the present instance the moisture containing and'expelling'means is in the form'of a flexible resilient rubber bulb 5I having substantially the' shape shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3. rIhe bulb 5I consists of a substantially rectangular hollow body 52, which includes a rear wall 53 arranged to seat againstr and be restrained against outward bulging by the front side of the transverse partition 6. The hollow bulb 5I also includes a bottom wall 54 arranged to seat on and be restrained against outward bulging by the upper surface of the bottom plate 2. rThe side walls 55 of the bulb 52 rest against the inner faces of the side walls Il, of the body I which also prevent outward bulging of the bulb walls 55, 55.

Forward movement of the bulb in the frame I is prevented by the transverse rib i9 engaging the lower portion 55 of the front wall of the bulb 52. Vertical movement of the bulb 52 is prevented by a rib 5l formed on the underside of the cover plate I I and engaging a shoulder 58 formed along the `rear upper edge of the bulb 52.

The top wall 59 of the bulb 52 and the front wall 5I of said bulb merge into an upwardly and forwardly projecting neck or protuberance 55. The protuberance Bil includes a front wall 62 curved to the arc, or substantially to the arc, of the peripheral surface of the moistening roll I9 and forms a continuation of a similarly shaped portion of the front wall 5I of the bulb. Between the concaved upper portion of the front wall of the bulb and the substantially flat lower portion 56 of said front wall, said front wall is bulged outwardly or convexed as indicated at 63. The

moisture may pass from the passage 65 onto the peripheral surface of the moistening roll I 9.

The top wall 59 of the bulb 52 is provided with v a hollow boss 68 in which is rigidly mounted a ferrule 59. The i'errule is provided wtih a screw threaded bore adapted to receive a threaded filling or closure plug 10. The closure plugv lil is provided with an axial bore II having radial fins 'I Ia adjacent its lower end for engagement with the stem 'I2 of a valve 13 which is adapted to engage a seat M formed at the lower end of the bore lI for closing said bore against passage of moisture outwardly from the interior of the bulb 5I through said bore. A spring 75, having one end resting on the upper ends of the fins lla and its opposite end secured to the upper end of the valve stem l2, holds the valve 'I3 normally in sealing Contact with the seat 'IIL In operation of the device, the lid III is adapted to be swung about its pivot I3 to expose the filling cap 'Ill and the strip compartment l. The filling cap may be readily unscrewed from the ferrule 594 and the interior of the bulb 52 filled with water. With the moistening roll I9 in its forward position and the concaved face 52 of the neck 60 resting on the peripheral face of the moistening roll, the openings 61 are normally closed against escape of the moisture from the bulb through the openings 61. After filling of the bulb 52, replacement of the plug I0 prevents escape of moisture through the filling opening 1I.

The roll or pack :nl of label strip :C is then placed in the compartment 'I and threaded through the passage Ill in the lid I0 whereupon the lid is swung in an opposite direction about the pivot I3 until the spring latch I4 snaps behind the locking pin I 5.l The strip a: is then extended over the top plate II and across the moistening roll I9 into the passage 35 in the beak of the device formed by the fixed plate 5 and relatively movable clamp plate 3l.

Iii

The device is then ready for operation and, as clearly indicated in the above noted prior patent, can be readily held and operated in and by one hand of the operator. With the fore-finger of` the hand in which the device is contained bearing against the portion of the strip which rests over the moisteningroll pressure of the nger will force the moistening roll rearwardly, during which the axle-2% thereof is guided by the slots 2l. Such movement ilexes or displaces the front walls of the container and neck of the bulb inwardly. This reduces the interior capacity of the bulb. With the bulb lled with air and Water reduction in the capacity of the bulb produces an increase in the internal pressure therein, which 'forces the moisture, either in a liquid or more or less vaporized state, out through the openings $1 onto the peripheral face of thc moistening roll I9. With the same nger, the moistening roll may bel rotated and the strip a: simultaneously advanced thereby. Turning of the roller I9 and the advancement of the strip :I: transfers the moisture from the peripheral face of the roll I3 onto the adhesive face of the strip a2.

Intermittent rearward movement of the moistening roll in the manner noted maintains a light iilm of moisture on the peripheral face of the inoistening roll without providing excessive moisture which would destroy the quick setting of the adhesive when the strip is applied to the surface y.

Each time the roll I9 is moved rearwardly to eject moisture from the neck 60 of the bulb and is released to be returned to its normal position by the spring 22, the valve 'I3 will open to permit air to enter the interior of the bulb to replace the volume of moisture and any air which may have been expelled from the interior of the bulb therewith by the previous reduction of the capacity of the bulb as effected by the previous rearward movement of the moistening roll I9.

The valve 'I3 closes automatically after each operation of the roller I9 and holds the pressure within the bulb on the next operation of the roller I9, which, by reduction of the capacity of the bulb, again and each time forces moisture out through the openings 81 onto the peripheral face of the moistening roll I9.

The resiliency of the neck E of the bulb maintains the concaved face of said neck in such close contact with the peripheral face of the roll I9 at all times that moisture is prevented from accidentally or unintentionally being expelled from the openings S7; and the automatic closing of the breather valve 73 in a like manner prevents escape of moisture through the breather opening `II. Thus, the device is automatically sealed against the escape of moisture which, in devices of the general type to which the device of the present invention belongs heretofore has been responsible for spotting of the articles to which the labels are being applied or upon which the device has been carelessly laid when not in use.

I claim:

l. In an adhesive strip moistening device, the combination of a normally closed moisture container provided with a normally closed moisture ejecting opening and comprising a relatively movable Wall, a moisture applying element engageable with said strip and said wall and adapted to displace said wall to create a pumping action in said container to expel moisture therefrom onto said applying element.

2. In an adhesive strip moistening device, the

combination of a normally closed moisture con-k said wall and thereby creating a pumping action in said container to expel moisture therefrom onto said applying element.

3. In an adhesive strip moistening device, the combination of a normally closed flexible moisture container of predetermined normal shape provided with a normally closed moisture ejecting opening, and a moisture applying element engageable with said strip and operable against a portion of said ilexible container for distorting said flexible container from its normal shape to force said moisture from said container onto said applying element.

4. In an adhesive strip moistening device, the combination of a normally closed flexible moisture container of predetermined normal shape provided with a normally closed moisture ejecting opening,l a moisture applying element engageable with said strip and operable against the portion of said flexible container for distorting said flexible container from its normal shape to force said moisture from said container onto said applying element, and breather means providr ing for admission of air to the interior of the container between said distortions thereof.

5. In an adhesive strip moistening device, the combination of a normally closed resilient moisture container, a relatively movable moisture applying element engageable with said strip, a hollow exible protuberance on said container bearing against the strip engaging surface of said applying element and provided with a moisture outlet normally closed by said surface, and a flexible displaceable wall of said container engageable with said element and operable by movement of said element for forcing said moisture from said container onto said applying element.

6. In an adhesive strip moistening device, the combination of a normally closed resilient moisture container, a relatively movable moisture applying element engageable with said strip, a hollow flexible protuberance on said container bearing against the strip engaging surface of said applying element and provided with a moisture outlet normally closed by said surface, a flexible displaceable wall of said container engageable with said element and operable by movement of said element for forcing said moisture from said container onto said applying element, said container having a breather opening, and a check valve normally closing said opening and arranged to admit air to the interior of the container between operations of said wall.

'7. In an adhesive strip moistening device, the combination of a normally closed flexible moisture container of predetermined normal shape, a moisture applying roller contactable with said strip, a hollow flexible resilient protuberance on said container having one wall thereof normally engaging the strip contacting surface of said roller and having a moisture outlet normally closed by said surface, a resilient readily displaceable wall on said container forming a continuation in part of the roller engaging Wall of said protuberance, and means aiording to and fro movement of said roller relative to said container as a Whole for displacing said engaged surfaces for reducing combination of a normally closed flexible moisture container of predetermined normal shape, a moisture applying roller contactable with said strip, a hollow flexible resilient protuberance on said containery having one Wall thereof normally engaging the strip contacting surface of said roller and having a moisture outlet normally closed by said surface, a resilient readily displaceable wall on said container forming a continuation in part of the roller engaging wall of said protuberance, means affording to and fro movement of said roller relative to said container as a Whole for displacing said engaged surfaces for reducing the internal capacity of said container to force moisture therefrom through the opening in said protuberance onto said surface of said roller, said container having a lling opening, a plug normally closing said lling opening and having a breather opening extending through said plug, and a breather valve carried by said plug and normally closing said breather opening.

9. In an adhesive strip moistening device, the combination of a normally closed resilient moisture container provided with a normally closed moisture ejecting opening and comprising a relatively movable wall, a rigid frame encasing said resilient container and preventing bulging of adjacent Walls of said container, a relatively movable moisture applying roller slidably mounted in said frame and engageable with said strip` and said wall and adapted to displace said Wall to create a pumping action in said container to expel moisture therefrom onto said applying element.

MARGARET HOOKER TARR. 

